2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Question 2: Pawlenty on Experience and Results

Question 2:  Pawlenty on Experience and Results

Watch the video here:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd4ELqBvOCc

Chris Wallace: Governor Pawlenty, you say Representative Bachmann has no accomplishments in Congress. You have questioned her ability to serve as President because of her history of migraines. Governor, is she unqualified or just beating you in the polls?
 
Gov. Pawlenty: Chris, to correct you, I have not questioned Congresswoman Bachmann’s migraine headaches. I don't think that is an issue. The only headache i hear on the campaign trail is the headache Barack Obama has given the people of this country with his lousy leadership and this lousy economy.
 
Gov. Pawlenty: As to Congresswoman Bachmann’s record - look, she’s done wonderful things in her life, absolutely wonderful things. But it’s an undisputable fact that in Congress her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent. That's not going to be good enough for our candidate for President of the United States, that is not going to be good enough for the President of the United States to serve in that capacity. The American people are going to expect more and demand more. And in fact we need somebody who can contrast with Barack Obama on results. If you go to my record in Minnesota you will see government spending went from historic highs to historic lows. We appointed conservative justices, transformed the court in a conservative direction. We did health care reform the right way no mandates individually, no government takeovers and more and that is the record we will need to beat Barack Obama.
 
Chris Wallace: Congresswoman Bachmann, I’m going to ask you in a moment your own question about Governor Pawlenty. I want to give you a moment to respond to his comment. You have 30 seconds. One, you have no record of accomplishments and two, there's something missing in your resume because you do not have executive experience.
 
Rep. Bachmann: Thank you for asking the question. I would say Governor, when you were governor in Minnesota, you implemented cap and trade in our state. And you praised the unconstitutional individual mandate and called for requiring all people in our state  to purchase health care mandate. Third, you said the era of small government was over. That sounds more like Barack Obama, if you ask me. During my time in -- during my time in the United States Congress I've fought all of these unconstitutional measures as well as Barack Obama and I led against increasing the debt ceiling the last two months.
 
Chris Wallace: You anticipated the question I was going to ask. Congresswoman Bachmann, isn't that about the worse thing you can say about a fellow Republican in this campaign that he reminds you of Barack Obama?
 
Rep. Bachmann: The policies that the Governor advocated for were cap and trade. He praised and wanted to require Minnesotans to purchase the unconstitutional individual mandate in health care and he said the era of small government is over. I have a very consistent record of fighting very hard against Barack Obama and his unconstitutional measures in congress. I'm very proud of that record. That is what qualifies me, as a fighter and Representative of the people, to go to Washington, D.C. and the White House. People are looking for a champion. They want someone who has been fighting. When it came to healthcare, I brought tens of thousands of Americans to Washington to fight the unconstitutional individual mandates, I didn't praise it. When it came to cap and trade, I fought it with everything that was in me, I introduced the Lightbulb Freedom of Choice Act so people could purchase the lightbulb of their choice. I also believe that big government is hurting the United States. We need to have small government.

Chris Wallace: I'm sure you have been waiting for the opportunity Governor Pawlenty, 30 seconds to respond.
 
Gov. Pawlenty: I'm surprised Congresswoman Bachmann would say those things. That's not the kinds of things she said when I was Governor of the state of Minnesota. She has a record of misstating and making false statements and that's another example of that list. She says she is fighting for these things. She fought for less government spending, we got a lot more. She led the effort against Obamacare, we got Obamacare. She led the effort against TARP, we got TARP. She said she's got a titanium spine, it's not her spine we're worried about, it's her record of results. If that's your view of effective leadership and results, please stop because you're killing us.
 
Chris: Congresswoman Bachmann, 30 seconds to respond.
 
Rep. Bachmann: Thank you so much. I was at the tip of the spear fighting against the implementation of Obamcare in the United States Congress. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama ran Congress, but I gave them a run for their money. Again on cap and trade, I was there from the very beginning giving Speaker Pelosi a run for her money. That's why I was Speaker Pelosi's number one target to defeat last year because I was effectively taking them on on nearly every argument they put forward. I fought. When others ran, I fought and I led against increasing the debt ceiling.

Iowa Fox News Debate Question 3: Pawlenty on Not Raising Taxes

Question 3:  Pawlenty on Not Raising Taxes

Byron York: Governor, you say you balanced the budget without tax increases as Governor of Minnesota. In 2005 you levied a tax on cigarettes which you called a health impact fee. You said you had to compromise with a Democratic legislature to end the government shutdown. Doesn't that show when leaders are faced with big deficits, they sometimes have to raise taxes?
 
Gov. Pawlenty: No. As I said before, I have the best record of financial management of any Governor in the country. Cato Institute gave only four governors in America an "A" grade, I was one of those Governors. The other three aren't running and the other three are not thinking about running. I had the first government shutdown in 150 years. We did put together a package, but I balanced the budget every time in Minnesota while I was Governor. My last budget ended on June 30th this year and it ended with a surplus. I did agree to the cigarette fee, I regretted that. The courts later held it to be a fee. Nonetheless, it was an increase in revenues. We didn't even need it. My record of leadership in Minnesota, cutting spending from historic highs to historic lows, balancing the budget every time, doing health care reform the right way again stands in contrast to Barack Obama. He should cancel his Cape Cod vacation, call the Congress back and get to work on this. Barack Obama is missing in action. He should have the kind of leadership I had when I was Governor of the state.
 
York: Next, Representative Bachmann, this is a question about that cigarette tax increase. You were in the Minnesota state legislature, at the time. You said you opposed the tax. In the end, you voted for it. Now you promise never to raise taxes. Why would you compromise then, but not now?
 
Rep. Bachmann: That's right. I was very vocal against that tax, and I fought against that tax. The problem is, when the deal was put together, Governor Pawlenty cut a deal with the special interest groups and he put in the same bill, a vote to increase the cigarette tax, as well as the vote that would take away protections from the unborn. I made a decision, I believe in the sanctity of human life. And I believe you can get money wrong, but you can't get life wrong. That's why I came down on that decision that I made.
 
York: Governor Pawlenty, do you have a response?
 
Gov. Pawlenty: Yeah, what is wrong in the answer is the answer. Congresswoman Bachmann didn't vote for that bill because of stripping away of pro-life protection, she voted for it and now creating that as an excuse. She speaks of leading efforts in Washington and Minnesota. Leading and failing is not the objective. Leading and getting results is the objective. I've got the best record of results as any candidate in this race.
 
Rep. Bachmann: This is exactly what I'm trying to illustrate. We need to have a President of the United States who stands firm on their conviction. This is what I have demonstrated for everyday that I have been in Congress. I've had a consistent record of standing on my convictions. I didn't cut deals with special interest groups where you put the pro-life issues together with tax increase issues. That's a non-negotiable. When we come to a non-negotiable, we must stand. And I stand.
 
York: Governor, we'll come back around.

Gov. Pawlenty: Very quickly. Her answer is illogical, if there were two bad things in the bill, a tax increase and hypothetically stripping away pro-life protections, which we weren't, then it is a double reason to vote against it. She voted for it.
 
Rep. Bachmann: I need to respond to that.

Sen. Santorum: I haven't had a chance to say a whole lot.

York: I understand. You have the next question I promise, Senator. Congresswoman Bachmann,15 seconds.
 
Rep. Bachmann: This is what I want to say, if a member casts a vote one way, they would be increasing the cigarette tax. If they cast a vote another way they would not be voting for the pro-life protection. It was a choice. The Governor put us in that box, and I chose to protect human life.

Fact Check On Bachmann Statement

Fact check on Bachmann's false attack

Pawlenty Cautioned Against Political Meddling In Health Care Policy And Twice Rejected The Individual Mandate, In 2003 And 2006:

Governor Pawlenty CriticizedPolitical Meddling In Health Policy. "Pawlenty also peppered his remarks with broad criticism of the nation's current 'tattered, outdated, inefficient' health care system and hard shots at health maintenance organizations (HMOs), prescription drug advertising and political meddling in health policy" (Conrad Defiebre, "Pawlenty: Give Health Coverage To All Kids," MinneapolisStar Tribune, 11/15/06)

The National Journal Singled Out Pawlenty For Rejecting Individual Mandates Twice As Governor Of Minnesota, In 2003 And 2008. “MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) defied recommendations made to him by advisers twice in the last 6 years about working to install individual mandates for health insurance coverage -- and in doing so may have stockpiled some points he can use to score with the GOP base.” (Erin McPike, “Pawlenty Twice Turned Down Mandate,” The National Journal, 3/31/10)

The Star Tribune Issued A Correction For The "Era Of Small Government" Misquote Three Days Later After A Battle Pawlenty Discussed On Rush Limbaugh Several Months Ago:

The Star Tribune Issued A Correction For The "Era Of Small Government" Misquote.. "An article on Page 01B Saturday quoted Gov. Tim Pawlenty saying 'The era of small government is over,' a comment he made in reference to a point made in a 2004 column by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said Monday that Pawlenty's record shows he is not a supporter of 'big government' and that he was 'simply talking about the need for government to be more effective and active.'" ("Corrections," Minneapolis Star Tribune, 8/22/06)

In May 2011, Pawlenty Addressed The Misquote On Rush Limbaugh And The Battle To Get The Correction Printed. "Gov. Pawlenty: 'Well, actually I'm glad you brought that up, Rush, because it gives me a chance to clarify. The other side has pushed that falsely for a number of years. What happened is in the Minnesota Star Tribune -- not exactly a conservative publication -- I made reference to an articlethat David Brooks wrote which was entitled, "The Eera of Small Government is Over." I didn't say those words myself; I was referencing his article. Yeah, and so the next day -- the very next day -- the Star Tribune, after a big battle, printed a clarification or a correction in their correction page. Of course, the main article was on page one and the correction was buried in some footnote in page three, but that incorrect quote has haunted me --and I'm glad I had a chance in this big national forum on your great show to clarify, because if you go to the next day's newspaper you'll see the clarification in the Star Tribune.'" ("Our Interview With Tim Pawlenty," Rush Limbaugh, 5/23/11)

RESEARCH ALERT: Ron Paul Was Right

Product of Ron Paul 2012 PCC Research Team

_“Doesn’t it ever occur to you that maybe there’s too much power in the hands of those who control monetary policy, the power to create financial bubbles, the power to maybe bring the bubble about, the power to change the value of the stock market within minutes. That to me is just an ominous power and challenges the whole concept of freedom, and liberty, and sound money.” _- _Ron Paul _(2004) _ _ _Congressman Ron Paul has been a constant advocate for liberty, predicting the crises America now finds itself in. While many of the presidential candidates have begun utilizing the rhetoric of liberty in order to pander to the times, only Ron Paul has been consistent throughout and remains so today._

_Housing Bubble?_ Ron Paul predicted that

_"…the government increases the likelihood of a painful crash in the housing market._ This is because the special privileges of _Fannie, Freddie,_ and HLBB have _distorted the housing market__ by allowing them to attract capital they could not attract under pure market conditions_.

"However, despite the long-term damage to the economy inflicted by the government’s interference in the housing market, the government’s policies of diverting capital to other uses _creates __a short-term boom in housing_. Like all artificially-created bubbles,_the boom in housing prices cannot last forever_. When housing prices fall, _homeowners will experience difficulty as their equity is wiped out. Furthermore, the holders of the mortgage debt will also have a loss. These losses will be greater than they would have otherwise been had government policy not actively encouraged over-investment in housing._

"In fact, postponing the necessary but painful market corrections will only deepen the inevitable fall." ([3]Floor Speech, July 16, 2002) Links: 3. http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=hnidYb/0/2/0&WAISaction=retrieve

_Dollar Loses Value? _ Ron Paul saw that coming

"So here we have a _government’s official announced policy is we have a strong dollar, at the same time the real policy is constantly devaluating the dollar_. And, of course, for an economy to grow you ought to have relatively stable currency. People shouldn’t have something wildly fluctuating, and certainly _you shouldn’t have a currency that can be created out of thin air._

"And that’s where we are today. But my concern for many, many years has been the eventual consequence of what this will have on the dollar. We’ve seen a financial crisis build, we’ve seen a lot of liquidation of debt, we’ve seen a lot of purchasing of bad debt by our government and by the Federal Reserve. At the same time, it’s all done by the creation of new money out of thin air. We can do that just so long. You can defy economic laws for a while.

_"So everything is dependent on the willingness of the world and the people to put trust in the dollar, at the same time, regardless of what our Secretary of the Treasury says, we are embarking and continue to just print the money in an unlimited fashion and that means devaluation_ regardless of what they tell us." ([4]YouTube, November 12, 2009) _Overspending and Overbudget?_ Ron Paul saw that coming too Links: 4. http://www.youtube.com/watch ? v=AUVphbsu7qg&feature=player_embedded

"Restoring a free society doesn't eliminate the need to _get our house in order and to pay for the extravagant spending_. But the pain would not be long-lasting if we did the right things, and best of all the empire would have to end for financial reasons. Our wars would stop, the attack on civil liberties would cease, and prosperity would return. The choices are clear: it shouldn't be difficult, but the big event now unfolding gives us a great opportunity to reverse the tide and resume the truly great American Revolution started in 1776. Opportunity knocks in spite of the urgency and the dangers we face." (July 9, 2008 -[5]two months before 2008 market crash) Links: 5. http://paul.house.gov/index.php ? option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=60

_Undeclared Trillion-Dollar Wars With No End In Sight? _ Ron Paul also predicted that

"I rise to urge the Congress to think twice before thrusting this nation into a war without merit- one fraught with the danger of escalating into something no American will be pleased with. We have for months now heard plenty of false arithmetic and lame excuses for why we must pursue a preemptive war of aggression against an impoverished third world nation 6000 miles from our shores that doesn’t even possess a navy or air force, on the pretense that it must be done for national security reasons.

"For some reason such an attack makes me feel much less secure, while our country is made more vulnerable.

_"We do not know exactly how long this will last. It could be a six-day war, a six-month war, or six years or even longer."_ (September 4, 2002 [6]arguments) Links: 6. http://paul.house.gov/index.php ? option=com_content&task=view&id=316&Itemid=60

_What's his secret?_ _Principle_

"It's no secret that the economy and the debt will be the two largest issues in 2012, and Ron Paul has the most credibility on both issues. Back in September of 2003 _he predicted the housing crash that would eventually occur in 2007, which led to the financial recession. This should convince most voters that he knows what he's talking about._ As for the debt, Ron Paul never votes for an unbalanced budget, so it can only be assumed that he would veto one as well. He would decrease spending and cut whole departments; something that most Republicans don't have the political guts to do. These policies would go a long way towards shrinking the debt to at more manageable size." (Murphy, [7]Washington Times, July 22, 2011) Links: 7. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/political-pro-con/2011/jul/22/ron-paul-president-reagan

Team Bachmann Debate Response 1

The Big Government of Tim Pawlenty

Tim Pawlenty's executive experienceis not an asset if it simply means bigger and more intrusive government.

"The era of small government is over," Pawlenty said in an interview with the Star Tribune. "I'm a market person, but there are certain circumstances where you've got to have government put up the guardrails or bust up entrenched interests before they become too powerful ... Government has to be more proactive, more aggressive." (Star Tribune August 19, 2006)

That's the same philosophy which, under President Obama, has brought us record deficits, massive unemployment andan unconstitutional health care plan.

"Back in 2006, Pawlenty was portraying himself as a conservative who was willing to intervene in markets, and he said that government has to "bust up entrenched interests before they become too powerful." It appears he's been backing off those positions in 2011, but that doesn't change what his views were years ago. If he was quoting David Brooks when he said "the era of small government is over," he seemed to be doing so approvingly… (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jul/26/michele-bachmann/did-tim-pawlenty-say-era-small-government-over/)

Tim Pawlenty supported a cap and trade system, but tried to deny it.

"Pawlenty told Fox News Sunday on Jan. 16 that he 'never did sign a bill relating to cap and trade' when he was governor of Minnesota, but that's not true. He also said: 'I've opposed cap and trade.' However, that's been the case only since 2009.

"In fact, the bill he signed in 2007 specifically required a task force to 'recommend how the state could adopt' a cap-and-trade system. Furthermore, he also signed a regional compact with other Midwestern governors agreeing to 'jointly endeavor' to 'develop a market-based and multi-sector cap-and-trade mechanism.'" (FactCheck.org http://www.factcheck.org/2011/01/pawlentys-political-climate-change/ )

Tim Pawlenty was for government bail-outs before he was against them.

"So from a pure marketplace principle,you would not bail them out. But we also have to measure that against the consequences to the rest of the country. And, you know, that is an imperfect solution, but, like has been said, they are too big, the consequences are too severe for innocent bystanders to allow them to fail." (National Press Club on August 6, 2008)

Tim Pawlenty held views on health care that are strikingly similar to Barack Obama.

"He favored exchanges and was 'open to' mandates. Then he ran for president."

"In 2006, Pawlenty praised Romney for attacking health care costs, said he was 'open to' a similar insurance mandate and endorsed the idea that 'everybody should be in a health plan of some sort.'

'We all, I think, can chart a path toward universal coverage,' he said in a luncheon speech to a Minneapolis health reform conference. 'We're going to have to move in stages."

"In 2007, Pawlenty asked the Legislature to create a state-regulated health insurance exchange for individual health insurance policies -- now the centerpiece of Obama's plan to expand access to those who don't have group insurance through their employers.

"'It seems like there were two Pawlentys with regard to health care,' said state Rep. Paul Thissen, a DFL leader who served on the governor's bipartisan Health Transformation Task Force." (Star Tribune August 6, 2011)

Tim Pawlenty raised taxes in Minnesota

"Tim Pawlenty misled readers in an op-ed by saying he solved Minnesota's budget crisis in 2005 without raising taxes. Pawlenty's 75-cents-per-pack cigarette tax — which he called a "health impact fee" — helped forge a budget deal…" (http://www.factcheck.org/2011/07/pawlenty-taxes-and-budget-crises/)

Question 1: Pawlenty on Economic Growth

Bret Baier: Governor Pawlenty, you say your plan with tax cuts and spending caps would grow the economy by 5% a year for 10 years --a rate that has never been achieved in ten years in a row. With the last two quarters averaging less than 1% growth, even some Republican budget analysts are openly skeptical of that plan. Is your proposal just pie in the sky?

Gov. Pawlenty: The United States of America needs a growth target. It needs to be an aggressive and bold growth target. I don't want the United States' growth target to be anemic or laggard like Barack Obama. Is the bar high? Yes. But do we need that growth to get out of this hole? You bet. I hope people go to my website and read that whole plan. It is the most specific, comprehensive plan of any candidate in this race. There's another question here. Where is Barack Obama on these issues? You can't find his plans on some of the most pressing financial issues of our country. Where is Barack Obama's plan on social security reform? Medicare reform? Medicaid reform? In fact, I'll offer a prize tonight to anybody in this auditorium or anyone watching on television, if you can find Barack Obama's specific plan on any of those items, I will come to your house and cook you dinner.

Baier: What do you think of that?

Gov. Pawlenty: Or if you prefer i'll come to your house and mow your lawn. But in case Mitt wins, I'm limiting it to one acre.One acre.

Baier: Governor, any response?

Gov. Romney: That's just fine.

Rand Paul Altoona Iowa Pizza Ranch Photos #ronapul #iacaucus

President Obama to Travel to Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Begin Three-Day Economic Bus

President Obama to Travel to Minnesota, Begin Three-Day Economic Bus

WASHINGTON – On Monday August 15th, the President will travel to Minnesota to begin his three-day economic bus tour in the Midwest.

Bachmann Heads to Waterloo on Sunday, August 14 to Attend Black Hawk County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

Bachmann Heads to Waterloo on Sunday, August 14 to Attend Black Hawk County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

Urbandale, Iowa - Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will be a special guest speaker at the following event in Waterloo, Iowa this Sunday, August 14:

Sunday, August 14, 2011

EVENT: WHEN:

WHERE:

Black Hawk County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner 4:30 pm CT – Doors open 6:45 pm CT – Bachmann addresses crowd Electric Park Ballroom at the National Cattle Congress 310 West Conger St. Waterloo, Iowa

#

Ron Paul Endorsed by Three Story County GOP Chairmen Heath Hill joins Spiker, Adams in choosing Paul

Ron Paul Endorsed by Three Story County GOP Chairmen Heath Hill joins Spiker, Adams in choosing Paul

ANKENY, Iowa– The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul has received the endorsement of former Story County Republican Party Chairman Heath Hill.

The endorsement is the third Story County Republican Party chair endorsement of Dr. Paul’s 2012 campaign.

Current Story County GOP Chairman Cory Adams endorsed

Dr. Paul on July 25 th and A.J. Spiker—who served as Story County GOP chair after Mr. Hill and before Mr. Adams—serves as Iowa Vice-Chair of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign. The endorsement of Mr. Spiker, who is also a State Central Committee Member of the Republican Party of Iowa, took place de facto as he assumed the role of Iowa

vice-chair on April 26 th , when Dr. Paul announced the formation of an exploratory committee to assess his options for the 2012 presidential campaign.

“My endorsement of Congressman Ron Paul today is not simply because he wants to shrink the size of the Federal Government. It is because he is the only presidential candidate who would have invoked the Tenth Amendment and not granted the Federal Government 95 percent of its current size, power and programs in the first place,” said Mr. Hill, current Market President at Premier Credit Union in Ames.

“If you want to preserve your community, preserve your liberties and reverse the tide of the ever-growing, ever in debt, and ever-intrusive Federal Government, please stand with me this Saturday at the Ames Straw Poll in support of Congressman Ron Paul for President in 2012,” said Mr. Hill.

Mr. Hill made his endorsement before a crowd gathered at a Ron Paul campaign event that also featured Dr. Paul’s son, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). The event took place at 9:00

a.m. on Thursday, August 11 th at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 1325 Dickinson Avenue in Ames.

Story County is home to Ames, the city in central Iowa 30 miles north of Des Moines that hosts the famous Ames Straw Poll. This year’s Ames Straw Poll will take place on August 13, 2011